The Milwaukee Bucks have made a string of moves to try and create a winning team for this season as a desperate ploy to keep their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo happy.
However, their latest move might have just done the opposite.
The Bucks chose to waive star point guard Damian Lillard to clear up salary cap space and sign former Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner. With Lillard’s torn Achilles injury he suffered in the playoffs likely causing him to miss the entire season, this could be viewed as a sensible move to use Lillard’s hefty salary elsewhere.
However, according to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, that is not how Antetokounmpo views it.
BREAKING: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is not pleased with the team’s decision to waive Damian Lillard, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/NGqJIWRQeq
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2025
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Hayes later added that Antetokounmpo wasn’t happy with how the situation was handled.
“He’s been weighing his options and trying to figure out what he’s going to do, trying to navigate his future,” Hayes said. “This is just one more thing added to the equation, in which he’s seeing that there are some suspect things happening, or the way that they are happening, so I was told he’s not pleased with what transpired with Damian Lillard.”
This is especially troublesome for Milwaukee since it has previously been reported that Antetokounmpo is weighing his future with the franchise, possibly even requesting a trade. The Bucks have fervently expressed commitment to keeping Antetokounmpo around, but he may force their hand.
Plenty of teams have been rumored to be interested in the two-time MVP, including the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Any of these teams could present enticing packages that would still give the Bucks a hefty return for Giannis.
It remains to be seen if Antetokounmpo will officially request a trade.
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